Benfica continued their dominant start to the UEFA Champions League (UCL), delivering a stunning 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid in Portugal. The hosts showcased their attacking prowess in front of a vibrant home crowd, while their Spanish opponents appeared limp and disorganized, suffering their first defeat in 11 matches.
First Half: Benfica’s Early Dominance
From the onset, Benfica’s intent was clear. They pressed high, causing problems for Atlético’s defense. Vangelis Pavlídis came close to opening the scoring early, his towering header forcing an acrobatic save from Jan Oblak. The hosts, who were UCL quarter-finalists just two seasons ago, kept up the pressure, with Fredrik Aursnes testing Oblak again from distance.
However, it was Aursnes’ creativity that unlocked Atlético’s defense. His beautifully weighted, defense-splitting pass found Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give Benfica the lead. Atlético’s defense, normally rock solid, had been breached for only the sixth time in ten matches this season.
Atlético Struggles to Respond
Diego Simeone’s men seemed rattled, with Samuel Lino missing two decent opportunities to level the match. The winger’s wide shot and off-target header from a promising position highlighted the lack of sharpness in Atlético’s attack. Benfica nearly punished their visitors further just before halftime when Pavlídis hit the post with an off-balance strike, leaving Atlético hanging by a thread as the whistle blew for the break.
Second Half: Benfica Run Riot
Benfica wasted no time asserting themselves after the interval. VAR awarded a controversial penalty following a foul on Pavlídis, much to the dismay of Atlético’s players and fans. Ángel Di María stepped up, sending Oblak the wrong way to double Benfica’s lead. The Argentine was a constant threat, nearly adding a second goal just moments later after a brilliant one-on-one effort.
Atlético Madrid’s inability to respond was evident. They struggled to create any meaningful chances and had yet to register a shot on target by the time Benfica made it 3-0. Alexander Bah powered in a header at the back post following a pinpoint corner from Jan-Niklas Beste, effectively sealing the win for the Eagles.
Benfica Seal the Rout
As Atlético’s frustration mounted, their defense fell apart. Reinaldo clumsily brought down Zeki Amdouni in the penalty area, gifting Benfica their second spot kick of the night. Orkun Kökçü stepped up confidently and smashed home the fourth goal, rounding off a perfect night for the home side. Benfica now boasts nine successive victories across all competitions at the Estádio da Luz. At the same time, Atlético continues to struggle on the road, winning just one of their last ten UCL away games.
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Conclusion
This dominant performance will send a clear message to Benfica’s Champions League rivals: they are a force to be reckoned with this season. With a perfect start to their UCL campaign and a solid run of form across all competitions, Bruno Lage’s side looks ready to go deep into the tournament. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid has some serious reflecting to do to avoid more humiliation in Europe. Fans will be hoping Simeone can turn things around quickly as the Spanish giants seek redemption in their upcoming fixtures.
Benfica’s comprehensive 4-0 win will remain a highlight of this year’s group stage, cementing their place as one of the most dangerous teams.